Cylinder lock actuator



Feb. 21, 1967 T. H. JOHNSTONE 3,304,755

CYLINDER LOCK ACTUATOR Filed Oct. 28 1964 ATTORNEY United States Patent3,304,755 CYLINDER LOCK ACTUATOR Theodore H. Johnstone, New Baltimore,Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 407,192 1 Claim.(Cl. 70-279) This invention relates generally to actuators and moreparticularly to a new and improved combined push button and cylinderlock actuator.

This invention provides an improvement in the type of combined pushbutton and cylinder lock actuator wherein a key or other locking meansconditions the actuator for operation, the improvement particularlyresiding in the provision of some auxiliary means for conditioning theactuator for operation independently of use of the key. This isespecially advantageous, for example, in a vehicle body deck lidinstallation wherein some authorized auxiliary control obviates thenecessity for constant use of the key to gain repeated access to thevehicle compartment. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator of thisinvention generally includes a combined push button and key lockcylinder member rotatably and axially slidably mounted in a surroundingcasing, and an actuating member adapted to be moved between an operativeposition wherein it is responsive to actuating movement of the cylindermember to operate some associated mecha nism, for example a deck lidlatch, and an inoperative position wherein the actuating member isnonresponsive to such actuating movement. The actuating member may belocated in its operative position either by using the proper key or byauxiliary means which are operable independently of use of the key.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedcombined push button and cylinder lock actuator which may be conditionedfor operation either through use of a proper locking agency or byauxiliary means operable independently of such agency.

This and other objects and features of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, of an actuatoraccording to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIGURE 1 takengenerally along the plane indicated by the lines 22 thereof and showingthe actuator in actuating condition;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the actuator innonactuating condition; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 of another embodiment of anactuator accord-ing to this invention.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the actuator,designated generally as 10, is shown mounted on a supporting body 12.For purposes of illustration, the actuator may be considered as beingapplied in a vehicle body deck lid installation, body 12 representingthe outer panel of the deck lid. The actuator may be further consideredas being employed to actuate a deck lid latch, an operating member ofwhich is indicated at 14. A suitable form of deck lid latch usable withthe actuator of this invention is disclosed in Fox et al. 2,886,365,issued May 12, 1959. In such case, member 14 represents suitable linkageconnecting the present actuator to the roll-back or detent releasemember of the Fox et al. latch.

Actuator is generally of the combined push button and cylinder lock typeand includes a casing 16 extending through an opening in outer panel 12and being held thereon by the engagement therewith of a decorativecasing end portion 17 and a snap ring 1 8. A lock cylin- 3,304,755Patented Feb. 21, 1967 "ice der 20 is rotatably and slidably receivedwithin the casing and includes an integral push button portion 22adapted to extend exteriorly of the casing end portion under the actionof a coil compression spring 24 seating between a pair of snap rings 26on the cylinder and on an interior end portion of the casing.Circumferentially spaced embossments 28 on the cylinder are engageablewith the casing end portion 17 to locate the cylinder in the extendedposition shown against the action of spring 24.

Cylinder 20 is functionally of the retractable side bar type, the sidebar 30 being received in the extended position thereof within a lockinggroove 31 on the interior of casing 16 and extending substantiallythroughout the length thereof, FIGURE 2. The structural and functionaldetails of a suitable mechanism providing the locking function ofcylinder .20 may be had upon reference to US. Patent 2,949,762, issuedAugust 23, 1960; but suflice it to say here that cylinder 20 is lockedagainst movement within casing 16 by the projection of side bar 30 intothe locking groove 31, and suitable tumbler means are provided towithdraw the side bar from the groove upon the insertion of a properlycoded key indicated at 32. In the actuator illustrated in FIG- URES 1through 4, the side bar 30 when extended is operative to preventrotation of cylinder 20, the cylinder being freely slidable within thecasing at all times.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 3, an actuating member 34 includes agenerally disc-shaped portion 36 lying adjacent the interior end ofcylinder 20 and rotatably mounted thereto by a pin 40, and an actuatinglug 38 extending from the portion 36. A second pin 42 on the cylinderend is received within an arcuate lost motion slot 44 in portion 36 toprovide operative connection for transmitting rotation of the cylinderto the actuating member. Mounted on an ear 46 of casing 16 is anoperating member 48 which carries in a slot thereof one end of themember 14. A nose 50 of member 48 extends toward the cylinder forengagement with lug 38, and an embossment 52 on ear 46 locates member 48in nonactuated position as shown.

The actuating member 34 is rotatable either in response to rotation ofcylinder 20 or independently thereof between an operative position asshown in FIGURE 2 and an inoperative position, FIGURE 3. In itsoperative position, member 34 is located to have lug 38 thereofjuxtaposed to nose 50, whereby upon inward sliding movement of cylinder20, member 48 will be rotated for actuation of the deck lid latchthrough member 14. In its inoperative position, the actuating member islocated to have lug 38 rotatively displaced from nose 50 whereby inwardsliding movement of cylinder 20 is ineffective to cause rotation ofmember 48 to actuate the latch. It will be understood that member 34 maybe moved between these positions by inserting key 32 in cylinder 20 towithdraw side bar 30, and subsequently rotating the cylinder. Suitablespring return means may be provided to normally locate cylinder 20 inthe neutral position shown, or alternatively and preferably, provisionmay be made to prevent key withdrawal in other than the neutralposition.

Referring to FIGURE 2, actuating member 34 further includes an elongatedear 54 of portion 36 extending radially of casing 16 and through anopening 56 thereof. An elongated lost motion slot 58 is provided in ear54 through which is received one leg 61 of a generally L- shapedarmature 60 of a miniature solenoid 62. The solenoid is mounted on alaterally extending mounting portion 64 of the casing, and armature 60is biased to an extended position by a coil compression spring 66seating between the solenoid housing and a collar 68 on the armature. Itwill be readily apparent that upon energization of solenoid 62, theactuating member 34 may be rotated from inoperative to operativepositions independently of use of key 32 to unlock Cylinder 20. Thecylinder may then be pushed inwardly to rotate the operating member 48and actuate the latch. Leg 61 of armature 60 is of sufficient length toremain with ear 54 during this inward movement. When the solenoid isdeenergized, spring 66 returns actuating member 34 to inoperativeposition. It will further be noted that the spring performs the samefunction when key 32 is used rather than the solenoid.

Many suitable circuit means for energizing the actuator solenoid 62 maybe provided, but to ensure only deliberate authorized operation thereofwhen used in a vehicle, the solenoid is preferably wired in series withthe grounded ignition cylinder lock for the vehicle, the retractableside bar 70 of which provides actuation for a contact of first switch72, a second switch 74 being provided so as to require consciousdeliberate conditioning of the solenoid circuit. It will be understoodthat means other than solenoid 62 may be provided for operatingactuating member 34 independently of use of key 32.

In FIGURE 4, there is shown a modification of the actuator of thisinvention wherein like numerals refer to like parts. In this embodiment,two solenoids 80 and 82 are provided, neither of which includes thespring return means of the previous embodiment. These solenoids wouldeach be provided with a circuit wherein each would be only brieflyenergized to selectively locate the actuating member 34 in either itsoperative or inoperative position. With such an arrangement, theresistance to key rotation by the spring 66 of the previous embodimentwould be avoided.

Thus a new and improved combined push button and cylinder lock actuatoris provided.

I claim:

A cylinder lock actuator, comprising, casing means, a lock cylindermounted within said casing means for combined rotatable and axiallyslidable movement relative thereto, said cylinder being adapted to beselectively locked against rotation within said casing means and beingfreely slidable therein at all times, a mechanism operating member to beactuated, an actuating disc mounted on said cylinder for rotation as aunit therewith or rotation independently thereof and for slidingmovement therewith relative to said casing means, said disc including anactuating lug extending axially of said cylinder and an ear extendingradially thereof, lost motion pin and slot means connecting said discand said cylinder for rotation of said disc either in response toselected rotation of said cylinder or independently thereof between anoperative position juxtaposing said lug to said operating member forengagement therewith in response to sliding movemnt of said cylinder andan inoperative position locating said lug remote from said operatingmember to prevent such engagement, poweroperated means mounted on saidcasing means, means connecting said power-operated means to said radialear for rotation of said disc between said positions thereof by saidpower-operated means independently of rotation of said cylinder and forsliding movement of said disc with said cylinder relative to saidpower-operated means, and means for selectively energizing saidpower-operated means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,929,658 10/1933Solliday 360 X 2,218,183 10/1940 Springer 70149 2,683,978 7/1954 Jacobi70360 2,705,885 4/1955 Craig 70285 X 2,886,365 5/1959 Fox et al.292341.18 2,949,762 8/1960 Johnstone 70364 3,200,623 8/1965 Peters 70279EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

